Yak and chauri farmers struggle amidst border restrictions

With trade routes to China still closed for livestock, hundreds of Himalayan herders are burdened by unsold yaks and chauri, facing financial uncertainty and mounting losses.

Once a symbol of prestige and prosperity in the eastern Himalayas, yaks and chauri (Yak crossbreeds with local cows) are now becoming a growing burden for farmers. In districts like Taplejung, what used to be a thriving pastoral economy is teetering under the weight of closed borders, stalled trade, and overstocked herds.